# buy out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buy-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to pay someone for their share of a business so that you own the whole thing. You use this when a partner wants to leave a company.

For teachers: To purchase the full ownership or interest of a business or property from a partner or shareholder. Transitive and optionally separable.

## Examples

- My partner wants to leave, so I will buy out her share.
- When the two founders realized they had different goals, the CEO decided to buy out the co-founder to gain full control.
- Following months of intense negotiations, the private equity firm managed to buy out the remaining minority stakeholders, effectively taking the company private.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The company tried to buy off the competition." but "The company tried to buy out the competition." — Buy off implies a bribe or illegal payment, whereas buy out is a legitimate business purchase of ownership.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is common in business contexts and usually involves a person or their financial share as the object.
- Teaching tip: Use a role-play scenario where two business partners disagree to help students practice the logistics of buying someone out.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.